Recipe: Barbecue chicken pasta salad

This crowd-pleasing dish is the perfect way to send off summer.

By Natalie Mikles

Barbecue chicken pasta salad

It’s time to say goodbye to summer. Why not celebrate these last days of the season with a favorite meal?

Pasta salads are easy to make and are great for feeding a crowd. One of our favorites is a barbecue chicken pasta salad. Add any of your favorite summertime veggies to this mixture of grilled chicken, roasted corn, pasta and a dressing made with barbecue sauce.

Barbecue Chicken Pasta Salad

Serves 6

1 pound cellentani or rotini pasta, cooked

2 cups shredded, cooked chicken

1 cup corn kernels

1 cup black beans

1 cup halved grape or cherry tomatoes

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 scallions, thinly sliced

Barbecue Sauce Dressing

1 cup barbecue sauce

Juice of 2 limes

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 garlic clove, crushed

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

In a large bowl, combine pasta, chicken, corn, beans, tomatoes, cilantro and scallions.

Make the dressing by whisking together all sauce ingredients.

Drizzle half of dressing over pasta, tossing to coat. Taste to see if more dressing is needed. You might end up with leftover dressing.